Thanks all for the reviews. I'm happy when I get them, and happy makes the stories flow.

I do not own FFX. I never did. Stop asking me if I did, because I never will. sigh

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Chapter 4

Facing forward, facing Trials

In. Out. In. Out. In... Okay. Ready. Listening to Lulu breath was comforting. I opened my eyes groggily and sat up. My head hurt. I closed my eyes to listen, then stood up. I carefully walked over to the door, and then exited the room. I let out the breath I had been holding. So far, so good. Shuffling down the steps of the inn, I peered around. No one was awake at this hour. Faint light shone through the opening as I pushed the door open. It creaked, and I froze. However, there was limited movement upstairs, so I continued my escape. I walked down the dock, my legs pushing me to a run. Breathlessly, I sat at the peaceful water where it had defied gravity with my dance yesterday. I let the breeze ruffle my hair. My head felt better with the fresh dawn air. I hummed the Hymn of the Fayth to myself.

Ieyui

I sighed.

Nobomenou

The fayth appeared along side me.
Renmiri

It sang along.
Yojuyogo

I sang with it
Hasatekanae

I stared at the rising sun.
Kutamae

A single tear ran down my face. I was two days closer to the end of my life.

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You don't know the pain I'm going through

I watched him, unnoticed, walking along the dock. We were the only two up. He sat in the exact spot I had sat in a few minutes ago. He looked extremely frustrated. He stared out on the water like I had.

Maybe you do

He sighed and then closed his eyes.

You must miss your home too. You must miss your old life. Don't you wish you could just go back? But then…well, I'm glad we met. If you went back, I would be sad. I want you near me until the end.

He stood up and headed back to the inn. Good idea. I followed a few minutes after.

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We headed off to the forest. I turned to face him. I wanted him to know.

"I want to ask you to be my guardian."

"What!" Wakka exclaimed. "This is no time to be jokin' around Yuna!"

"Not a guardian then…I just want him nearby." Please please please Wakka!

"Huh? What do you mean?" Please understand!

"It's just that, well…" Lulu cut me off. Obviously, she was irritated.
"We're all going to the temple anyway. Can't this wait till later?"
I nodded, defeated.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." He interrupted me.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm just not really sure what's going on."
"My apologies." I bowed so he wouldn't see my flushed cheeks.

Luzzu and Gatta, two crusaders from Besaid, welcomed us. "Greetings, Lady Summoner! Do you want to try your skills at Ochu, Lord of the forest?" I looked at everyone. They looked expectantly at me. I smiled.

"Let's give it a try!"

Wakka pulled off a couple of hits. Lulu figured out that its weakness was fire, so she got some spells into the battle. Tidus got some more hits in, and so did Kimahri. Then something unexpected happened. It went to sleep.

"Uh-oh…I think…Yuna?"

I nodded, then prepared to summon. Believe. Valefore, my Aeon torpedoed to the ground. I pet him then commanded him to fight. He cast a Fire spell, then followed with an Energy Ray. Lord Ochu 0, Yuna 1. Yeah!

"A Lady Summoner and her Guardians. Well done!"

I bowed to them, and then we continued through the forest. Everyone seemed sort of happy. Lulu, well, Lulu was happy doing her job, and so was Kimahri. Tidus and Wakka were discussing something about Blitzball and Lord Ohalland. We were nearing the stairs up to the Kilika Temple. All of the Besaid Aurochs were preparing for the race up the stairs.

"A race, huh? Think you can beat me?" Tidus exclaimed, laughing.

"Yuna, if you would?" Wakka said as they lined up. I had a different plan.

"Ready?" I yelled. I guess not! I ran up the steps ahead of them, giggling like a ten year old. I pumped my legs as fast as I could, but seeing as I was not a Blitzer, I had a slight disadvantage. I looked up the stairs, and then my breath caught in my throat. Sinspawn!

I got ready to battle, and my guardians surrounded me. It was quite hideous, but I guess it would be if it comes from Sin. This particular Sinspawn was weak to Fire, so we ended the battle swift and victorious. We continued up the steps after Tidus learned what a Sinspawn was. I had known for a while. They were parts of Sin that were left behind. Sin would come back for them, so it was ideal to make quick work of them, or else face more destruction.

All of a sudden we had stopped again.

"I been thinking. Maybe people Sin gets to don't die. Maybe Sin carries 'em through time. Like a thousand years through time. And then, one day, maybe they just pop back, see?" Wakka said, scratching his head. I flinched as Lulu's voice descended harshly upon him, or rather us.

"Amazing. Simply amazing. You make up one theory after another, refusing to face the simple truth. Sin didn't take Chappu anywhere. Sin crushed him and left him on the Djose shore! Your brother won't just pop back. Oh, and one more thing. No matter how much you want it, no one can take Chappu's place. No one can replace Sir Jecht, for that matter. And there's no replacement for Lord Braska, either. It's pointless to think about it, and sad."

Lulu turned, and I followed. I knew not to take Lulu's ruthless comments too seriously. She was probably feeling really dreadful inside, but Lulu didn't show too much emotion. Especially not after Chappu died. She had loved him so much, and she had lost him.

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The Luca Goers were standing in the platform outside the temple. They started talking to the Aurochs. I waited quietly. Another Fayth to meet. Another Aeon to summon. More travel. I sighed.

We entered the temple. Wakka knelt at the statue of Lord Ohalland's feet. I looked around the temple. Kilika: the temple of Fire.

A scantily clad woman exited with a bare-chested man. She walked up to me. Great, competition. I don't want to argue.

"My name is Yuna--from the Isle of Besaid."
"Dona." She replied haughtily. She sounded irritated. "So, you're High Summoner Braska's daughter. That's quite a name to live up to."

I stared into her eyes, but she looked away.

"My, my, my... And all these people are your guardians? My, what a rabble! As I recall, Lord Braska had only two guardians. Quality over quantity, my dear. Whatever were you thinking?" What was I thinking? I was thinking that I wanted to go to the Chamber of the Fayth!

"I have need of only one guardian. Right, Barthello?"

The man called Barthello nodded. Kimahri stood up to him. I had some words for her.

"I only have as many guardians as there are people I can trust. I trust them all with my life! To have so many guardians is a joy, and an honour! Even more so than being my father's daughter." Dona's smirk came off her face. I felt bad so I added, "Of course, I would never think of questioning your ways, either. So, Lady Dona, I ask of you: please leave us in peace."

"You do what you want. Barthello, we're leaving."

She exited with her guardian. Then we approached the cloister of trials.

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I finally had time to sooth me nerves with praying to Yevon. I felt a vibration and flames surrounded me. The fayth appeared. It was a giant man with fiery red hair and smouldering red eyes.

"What is it that you want of me, summoner?"

I asked him for hope and strength to continue my journey. The Hymn sounded in my head as one thousand voices as he joined into a body with me. Ifrit…Ifrit…

The joining was complete, and I was exhausted. I stumbled out of the Chamber to my Guardians and a certain blonde with sea-blue eyes.

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He looked sad, and he halted. I approached him.

"Are…you okay?" I was concerned.

"I don't know." That I'll take as a 'no'.

"What do you want to do?"

"Scream real loud!"

I giggled. He followed through with a loud yell. Everyone turned around and I blushed.

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Goodbye Kilika. Goodbye. We boarded the ship and set off into the vast sea. I rested in the cabin.

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R&R please! Thanks for reading!

The next chapter…well I don't know what it is called, but it will be up ASAP.